Nickspace!

It’s been a long while since I enjoyed a walk in a foreign town. That kinda became Lu’s thing about a year ago, and I really don’t enjoy walking with people while trying to enjoy my ipod. I let him have that as his “thing”.
Today was particularly boring though. Unlike most of the people we meet and places we go, Pastor Paul at Salida gives us the keys to his church, and disappears until he needs us. Most of the time, I appreciate being by myself. However, today, with nowhere to go and no one to entertain, I spent most of my day in the church’s annex/nursery.
Around 9:30, the boredom was overwhelming. With the exception of loading our gear back into the trailer and a half hour outing to in n out, I had done nothing all day. I could stand it no longer and went for a walk.
The city of Salida is on the outskirts of Modesto. It’s much more… ‘ethnic’. More agricultural. More gated communities than dark alleys. It has it’s own atmosphere at night. It’s far less oppressive or scary than it’s surrounding neighborhoods.
This night seemed like a particularly good night for a walk. There was a cold, strong breeze. The clouds were a dark blue color. There seemed to be electricity in the air, and at the same time, a calm peace.
I found a park maybe a quarter mile from where I had spent my day cooped up in that house. The park had sprinklers fueling the grass, and keeping large pieces of the sidewalk reflective. I sat on a swing for a few minutes trying to remember the last time I had done such a thing. I realized how few things are depressing than trying to enjoy a playground alone.
I continued walking for another half hour of so. I had followed the train tracks back into the beginning of town. From there, I could easily find my way back to the church, or any number of time-killing sidetracks.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, it started pouring rain! With little warning, the sky erupted large bolts of water upon me. There was almost no one else out there at the time. As Bachman-Turner Overdrive began playing ‘Takin Care of Business’ in my earbuds, I took the entire moment in stride.
I walked those streets like I owned them. I absorbed that rain like it was a part of me. I embraced that cold wind and I looked into every pair of headlights.
Pools of filth collected on the sides of the street. The dirt, dust, and nasty debris rose to the top of the water and fought for it’s turn down the closest drain hole. It was like the sins of the streets were being removed, and a clean slate was being given.
With a slight detour, I made it back to the church soaked and joyful. Lu was still out on the streets walking. I was happy to change my clothes and go back to my spot in the nursery as though I had never left.